Acetylene generator



'R. F. RUSSELL. ACETYLENE GENERATOR- APPLICATION FILED Am. 25. 19:9.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

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Patented Mai. 28, 1922.

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RIC HARD F; RUSSELL, OF JERSEY-CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AIR REDUCTION COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ACET'YLENE ennnneron.

ament.

Specification of let sr t n Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

Application filed April 25, 1.91.9.- Serial No. 292,631.

To all whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, RICHARD F. RUssnLL, a citizen of the United States, residin at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson, tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Generators and .I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to acetylene generators and particularly to improved mecha; nism therein whereby calcium carbide is fed to the generating chamber.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision of a motor for the feed'mecha nism, operated by the pressure of the gas generated and automatically controlled by "such pressure, which is relatively simple in construction, certain in operation and which overcomes certain disadvantageous features of such devices as heretofore known and used.

A further object of my invention is the claimed as will be understood by reference to the following specification, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which,

1 g. l is a sectional view through the upper portion of a generator illustrating the feed mechanism and motor;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Gas operated motors for actuating the feed mechanism of acetylene generators have been heretofore constructed and used, but have embodied certain objectionable features. It has been necessary for example,

to provide a stuffing box to prevent leakage of water from the motor about the driving shaft of the feed mechanism. The stufiing box must be relatively tight and an element of friction is thus introduced which decreases the eiiiciency of the motor. Portions of the driving mechanism have been mounted exteriorly of the motor casing with; the result that such mechanism has been damaged through careless operation or tampering by unskilled workmen}; No provision has been made for readily starting the motor and for connecting and disconnecting it from the feed mechanism. The outlet from the motor has communicated directly with the water chamber so that water has been mechanically carried over from the water chamber with the eflluent gas. I propose "to overcome the objectionable features of such motors as heretofore constructed, thus making them more eflicient and less liable to derangement. Motors constructed in accordance with my invention may be depended upon to give continuous and satisfactory service without attention. The life of such motors is materially prolonged and the proper operation of the generator assured.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a shell enclosing the generator chamber. The shell is provided at its top with a cover 6 and a hopper 7 is supported therein to receive a charge of carbide. The carbide is delivered from the hopper 7 to a table 8 supported by suitable brackets 9 dependfrom the hopper. The carbide is swept from the table by an arm 10 secured to the shaft 11 and rotated through its connection with a shaft 12 having a;bearing 13 in one of the brackets 9. The foregoing is a common type of generator and is described herein by way of illustration. It is to be understood that the details of the generator may be varied, my invention relating more particularly to the motor and the arrangement thereof with relation to the generator.

The motor comprises a casing 14. having an extension 15 secured to a bracket 17, which, in turn, is fastened to the wall of the shell The extension 15 of the casing communicates with the interior of the shell through an opening 18. The casing is provided with a central chamber 19 within which the impeller wheel 20 is mounted on a shaft 21 which is preferably provided with pivotal bearings 22 and 28, the bearing 23 being movable in a socket provided in the casing and held bya spring 24 in engagement with the end of the, shaft 21. Thus any wear of the bearing is automatically compensated. A pinion 25 on the shaft 21 meshes with a gear 26 on a shaft 27 supported in a long plain bearing 28 projecting from the wall of the casing 14. The bearing 28 is surrounded by the extension 15 of the casing and is thus subjected to the pressure of the gas within the generator.

A clutch sleeve 29 is supported on the shaft 2? and the bearing 28 and is connected to the shaft by a feather 30. The end of the clutch sleeve 29 is provided with jaws 31 adapted to engage the clutch'teeth 32 fastened on the end of the shaft 12 of the feed mechanism. Thus when the impeller wheel is rotated the shaft 12 is driven to rotate the arm 10 and feed carbide from the table 8. A yoke 83 is connected to having openings therein for engagement by the pin sothat the clutch is held in open or closed position as desired. The feeding mechanism may thus be started or stopped while the motor is in operation.

Apipe 4O conveys gas from the generator to the chamber 41 beneath the chamber 19 and connected thereto by a passage 42. The bottom of the chamber 41 is closed by a diaphragm 43 resting upon a spring 44. The tension fthe spring may be regulated by an adjusting screw 45 threadedly supported at the lower end of the casing 14 and having a lock nut 46 to retain it in adjusted position. A valve stem 47 is connected to the diaphragm 43 and extends through the chamber 41. A bearing 48 is provided for the valve stem ina valve seat 4-9 with which a valve 50, supported on the stem, cooperates. The valve 50 controls the passage of gas entering the chamber 41 to a bypass 51 leading to the chamber 19 which permits the gas to pass without actuating the impeller wheel 20.

At the upper end of the chamber 19. a valve seat 52 is provided through which the gas escapes. A. valve 53 is supported in a guide 54 and is held in engagement with the seat by its own weight. Thus, the gas readily passes the valve but the valve is instantly closed when the pressure in the outlet exceeds that within the chamber.

Above the valve 53 I provide baffles 55 and 56 arranged to separate any moisture ,sumed.

mechanically carried by the gas as it leaves the chamber. The moisture separating on the baffles drains backwardly into the chamber. The gas escapes through an outlet 57 in a cap 58 secured to the casing 14. An inlet passage 59 for water is provided and is normally closed by a plug 60, it being understoodthat the casing 14 is normallyfilled withwater to the level indicated at 61, that is to say, sufficient to submerge the valve 53.

In order that the motor may be readily started I provide a mutilated gear 62 on a transverse shaft 63, the gear 62 being adapted to engage the driving gear 26 when the shaft 63 is rotated. The shaft 63 is preferably provided with a pivotal bearing 64. The shaft 63 is held in engagement with the hearing by a spring 65 disposed between a collar 66 on the shaft and a stuffing box 67 through which the shaft extends to the exterior of the casing 14. Al crank 68 is secured to the shaft 63 and is provided with an operating handle 69. The handle 69 carries a pin 70 which is normally held in engagement with an opening 71 in a plate 72 b a spring 73. Thus when the pin 70 is withdrawn from the opening, the shaft 63 may be rotated and upon the conclusion of a revolution is brought to rest by re-engagement of the pin 70 with the opening 71. The driving mechanism is started and is thereafter actuated by the gas flowing to the chamber 41.

Normally the gas entering the chamber 41 passes through the passage 42 into the chamber 19and by engagement with the impeller wheel 20 rotates the shaft 21. Ifthe clutch jaws 31 are engaged with the teeth 32, the feed mechanism is actuated to feed carbide to the generator. As soon as the pressure in the generator reaches a predetermined maximum the diaphragm 43 is depressed and the valve 50 is thusly drawn from its seat so that the gas entersthe bypass 51 and thus passes through the chamber 19 without actuating the impeller wheel. lVhen the pressure has diminished below the predetermined maximum, the valve 50 is reseated and operation in the usual manner re- From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a driving mechanism of a desirable character for acetylene generators. As already noted the feed mechanism of the generator may be readily started and stopped while the motor is in operation. Leakage of water from the generator isprevented and at the same time,

an easy bearing for the main shaft is pro- .vided by balancing the pressure of the gas on opposite sides of the hearing. I have provided means for starting the'motor when it has been standing for extended periods and for separating Water from the gas. The valve in the upper end of the chamber 19 prevents return of gas to the chamber should the pressure in the outlet for any reason exceed that within the motor and generator.

Various changes may be made in the form, arrangement and construction of the parts and I do not desire, therefore, to be limited to the exact form disclosed, my invention being directed to certain novel and advantageous features as hereinafter enumerated in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an acetylene generator having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor for driving said mechanism including a casing adapted to be filled with water, a rotary impeller wheel and driving connections between said wheel and feed mechanism wholly enclosed within said casing and generator, said connections being exposed to the pressure of gas within the generator to prevent leakage of water from the casing, and means for delivering gas from said generator to said casing to actuate said impeller wheel.

2. In an acetylene generator having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor for driving said mechanism including a casing adapted to be filled with water, a rotary impeller wheel and gearing wholly enclosed within said casing, a shaft actuated by said impeller wheel through said gearing, said shaft being exposed to the pressure of gas within the generator to prevent leakage of water from the casing, a clutch between said shaft and feed mechanism, means for actuating said clutch and means for delivering gas from said generator to said casing to actuate said impeller wheel.

3. In an acetylene generator, having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor for driving said mechanism, including a casing adapted to be partially filled with water, driving mechanism wholly enclosed within said casing, a bearing in said casing, a shaft supported in said bearing and connecting said driving and feeding mechanism and means for delivering gas from said generator to said casing, said bearing being exposed to the pressure of the gas within said generator whereby leakage of water from said casing through said bearing is substantially prevented.

4. In an acetylene generator having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor for driving said mechanism including a casing adapted to be partially filled with water, a rotary impeller wheel and gearing wholly enclosed within said casing, a long plain bearing in said casing and enclosed by a portion thereof which is secured to and communicates with said generator, a shaft in said bearing connecting said impeller wheel through said gearing to the feed mechanism and means for delivering gas from said generator to the casing to actuate the driving mechanism.

5. In an acetylene generator, having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor for driving said mechanism, including a casing adapted to be partially filled with water, driving mechanism within said casing, a bearing, a shaft in said bearing connecting said driving and feed mechanism, said hearing being exposed to the pressure of the gas within said generator, means for delivering gas from said generator to said casing and means in said casing to divert the gas from said actuating mechanism when the pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum.

6. In an acetylene generator, having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor comprising a casing adapted to be partially filledwith water, a shaft connected to said feed mechanism, said shaft being exposed to the pressure of gas within the generator to prevent leakage of water from the casing, an impeller wheel and gear connections within said casing between said impeller wheel and shaft and means for conveying gas from said generator to said casing.

7 In an acetylene generator, having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor comprising a casing adapted to be partially filled with water, a shaft connected to said feed mechanism, said shaft being exposed to the pressure of gas within the generator to prevent leakage of water from the casing, an impeller wheel, gear connections within said casing between said impeller wheel and shaft, means for conveying gas from said generator to said casing, and means to divert said gas from said impeller wheel when the pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum.

8. In an acetylene generator having a feed mechanism for calcium carbide, a motor comprising a casing, a rotary impeller wheel within said casing and connected to the feed mechanism, means for conveying gas from the generator to the casing, a clutch within the generator, between the driving means and feed mechanism and means outside the generator for operating the clutch.

In testimony whereof I affix m signature.

RICHARD F. R SSELL. 

